Woman dies of diarrhoea in hospital

KNYSNA NEWS - A mother died in hospital while her three children were also admitted to Knysna Hospital, all seriously ill, causing concern that listeriosis had caused her death on 1 February.

Nadia Ferreira, principal communications officer for the Eden and Central Karoo Districts, Western Cape government health, said on Monday, 5 February, that tests for listeriosis were negative.

“We can confirm that a female patient and her children were admitted to Knysna Hospital for acute diarrhoea.

"The female patient unfortunately died due to complications from the diarrhoea,” said Ferreira.

Concerns brought to the attention of Ferreira that this woman may have contracted bird flu was also negative, said Ferreira.

“Bird-flu in humans usually presents with the same symptoms as normal seasonal flu and can be treated,” said Ferreira.

She said environmental health officers were busy with an investigation as with all cases where more than one person from the same family gets sick.

“We realise that members of the public might be uncertain about their food choices in light of listeriosis. The source of isteriosis has not yet been confirmed.

“As mentioned before, this disease is not necessarily only contained to food, but can be found in water or soil.

"We urge the public to be mindful of what they believe to be facts regarding listeriosis.

“Listeriosis can only be confirmed through laboratory testing. All information regarding listeriosis-related deaths is disseminated via the National Department of Health and the National Institute of Communicable Disease as they are the custodians of that information,” said Ferreira who added that in a case of listeriosis a detailed travel history is taken and investigated once a person has tested positive for the illness.

“Thus, although a person from Town A has tested positive, he or she might have contracted the disease in Town B,” said Ferreira explaining the difficulties in identifying the source of the illness.